Overview
The Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) was created to facilitate greater sharing of information. TLP is a set of designations used to ensure that sensitive information is shared with appropriate audiences.
TLP uses four colors to define sharing boundaries to be applied by the recipient(s) indicating when and how sensitive information can be shared, and by facilitating more frequent and effective collaboration. TLP is optimized for ease of adoption, human readability and person-to-person sharing; it may be used in automated sharing exchanges, but is not optimized for that use.
The source is responsible for ensuring that recipients of TLP information understand and can follow TLP sharing guidance. If a recipient needs to share the information more widely than indicated by the original TLP designation, they must obtain explicit permission from the original source. See Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) Definitions and Usagefor more information.
Definitions
| Color | When should it be used? | How may it be shared? |
|
TLP:RED
Not for disclosure, restricted to participants only. |
Sources may use TLP:RED when information cannot be effectively acted upon by additional parties, and could lead to impacts on a party's privacy, reputation, or operations if misused. | Recipients may not share TLP:RED information with any parties outside of the specific exchange, meeting, or conversation in which it was originally disclosed. In the context of a meeting, for example, TLP:RED information is limited to those present at the meeting. In most circumstances, TLP:RED should be exchanged verbally or in person. |
|
TLP:AMBER
Limited disclosure, restricted to participants’ organizations |
Sources may use TLP:AMBER when information requires support to be effectively acted upon, yet carries risks to privacy, reputation, or operations if shared outside of the organizations involved. | Recipients may only share TLP:AMBER information with members of their own organization, and with clients or customers who need to know the information to protect themselves or prevent further harm. Sources are at liberty to specify additional intended limits of the sharing: these must be adhered to. |
|
TLP:GREEN
Limited disclosure, restricted to the community. |
Sources may use TLP:GREEN when information is useful for the awareness of all participating organizations as well as with peers within the broader community or sector. | Recipients may share TLP:GREEN information with peers and partner organizations within their sector or community, but not via publicly accessible channels. Information in this category can be circulated widely within a particular community. TLP:GREEN information may not be released outside of the community. |
|
TLP:WHITE
Disclosure is not limited. |
Sources may use TLP:WHITE when information carries minimal or no foreseeable risk of misuse, in accordance with applicable rules and procedures for public release. | Subject to standard copyright rules, TLP:WHITE information may be distributed without restriction. |
